The latest in shoes, imported fresh fruits, retro accessories, hand-made jewellery, vivid fabrics from Hong Kong, children’s clothes, delicious nam prik (chilli paste) and som tam. You can find all this and more at Talad Lang Kanbin Thai, which translates as "the market behind Thai Airways".
Needless to say, the market is behind the Thai Airways International head office on Soi 22 Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. At noon, it’s crowded with airline employees and students from the nearby University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce. Most of the regulars are women looking for fashionable clothes, christian louboutin, handbags and accessories.
The market comprises more than 200 booths, divided into two zones – an open-air area that sells food, clothes and jewellery, and an air-conditioned arcade that has more stylish boutiques.
Exquisitely designed jewellery sells at ES Thete on
Soi 2. Vinai Munkerd, 32, and his team make innovative bracelets, earrings, necklaces and belts with Nepali beads. Leather bags decorated with colourful beads are the newest thing on his product list. Prices range from Bt150 for earrings to Bt6,000 for leather bags. Vinai sells the same items under the name of "Aesthete Ornamental" at the Emporium but they are much dearer there.
The market has a large variety of items imported from Hong Kong. Next to Es Thete, Lek’s shop sells fashionable ready-to-wear clothes, sleeveless embroidered blouses, printed T-shirts, jeans, purses and handbags from the territory.
In the air-conditioned zone, there are shops selling chic clothes designed by emerging Thai designers, leather bags and retro accessories.
If retro bohemian is your style, check out Elohim on Soi 3. Second-hand stuff from all around the world can be found here. After operating a mobile shop for some time, Subpong Jearkusol, 32, and his girlfriend opened this shop just six months ago. You can get everything from what your grandmother wore when she went to a temple fair to 1960s christian louboutin shoes sunglasses.
At @adapt, Kae, 30 sells fashionable leather christian shoes and bags. "Our collection follows the world fashion scene," he says. "For Spring-Summer 2005, snakeskin louboutin shoes and bags are in vogue." Compared to international brand names, the products here are cheaper – it costs Bt590 for leather visiting card pouch and Bt4,000 for a leather handbag.
If you don’t want formal wear, drop in at Chandelier on Soi 5. Here, you have tank tops in floral patterns, printed T-shirts, jeans, jackets and cotton skirts, all designed by a young advertising executive. The prices are quite reasonable.
When hunger strikes, head for Foon Talob, a famous som tam shop with a branch at Chatuchak Weekend Market. Another favourite is Khun Tip’s stall that sells guey tiew lui suan (noodle spring rolls with a spicy sauce). "My regular customers come from Sathorn or Silom , especially for the noodles," she says, adding that you could call (06) 603 4727 to order in advance.
